Can opener



May 15, 1928. 1,670,238

R. T. CHASE CAN OPENER Filed May '7, 1925 Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BEYBUBN '1. CHASE, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK B. SCOTT, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed May 7,

My invention relates to certain improvements upon the can opener set forth in my Patent No. 1,617 ,148 granted Feb. 8, 1927.

The object of the present invention 18 to provide means for automatically moving the cutting blade into contact with the metal of the can to be opened when the traction wheel is turned so that, as the turning of the traction wheel is continued, the can is punctured and then cut by the blade.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'front elevation of my improved can opener;

Fig. 2 is a rear View;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the improved can opener applied to a can, the blade being in the cutting position; and

Fig. 4 is a rear view showing the blade in contact with the metal of the can.

In the present instance, the frame 1 of the can opener is made of sheet metal. The upper guide 2 and the side guide 3 are formed by bending portions of the metal of the frame. The guide 2 rests upon the rim at one end of the can and the guide 3 rests against the side of the can, as shown in Fig. 3.

The toothed traction wheel 4 is formed integral with the shaft 5, which has its bearings in the frame 1. On the shaft is a handle 6 by which it is turned. The handle has a reduced portion 7, which, when the handle is turned, acts to force the point of the blade in contact with that portion of the can to be cut.

The blade 9 is mounted on a pivot 8 o the upwardly extending portion of the frame. This blade has a blunt cutting edge 10. Formed by beveling one corner of the blade is a point 11 by which the metal of a can is punctured prior to cutting.

The blade is preferably arranged at an angle in respect to the traction wheel so that, when the device is mounted on the rim of a can, the upper edge of the wheel is directly under the rim and the blade is close to the inner side of the rim. This insures a clean cut at a (point directly back of the rim.

In or er to move the blade automatically in contact with the metal of the can to be 1925. -Serial No. 28,-718.

cut, the blade is so formed that it is turned on its pivot when the handle 6 is turned The blade 9 has an extension 9, which is formed by bending the blade at 9". The extension is at the back of the frame and is so formed that, when the blade is raised, as in full lines in Fig. 1, it will rest against the shaft 5 of the traction wheel 4 in the path of the reduced portion 7 of the handle so that, when the opener is applied to a can, as shown'in Fig. 3, and the handle is turned from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 4, the blade is moved b the handle, striking the extension 9*, whic causes the point 11 of the handle 9 to come into contact with the metal of the can. As the movement of the handle is continued, the traction wheel moves the frame forward, causing the point of the blade to puncture the can and then to sever the metal by a shear cut. The blade is so positioned it presses the cut portion of the metal remaining on the body against the body, so that the inner surface of the can is smooth.

After a can has been cut, the blade is raised, which allows the frame to be removed easily and quickly from the can.

I claim:

1. The combination in a can opener, of a frame; a rotatable traction member havin a traction wheel and a handle; a points blade carried by the frame and'having a portion extending into the path of the traction member, so that on the first movement of the traction member the point of the blade will be forced against the can, and as the movement continues the point of the blade will puncture the can and then cut it.

2. The combination in a can opener, of a frame arranged to be applied to the edge of a can; a traction member consisting of a toothed wheel, a shaft and a handle; and a pointed blade pivotally mounted on the frame and arranged to engage and cut a can, said blade having an extension located in the path of the handle of the traction member, so that, when the handle is turned, the blade will be forced against thecan and as the movement continues the point of the blade will puncture the can and then cut it.

3. The combination in a can opener, of a of the frame in the path of the handle, so frame; a traction member consisting of a that, as the traction member is turned, the shaft extending through the frame; atoothed blade is forced into the can, and as the move- 10 wheel at one end of the shaft; a handle at the ment continues the blade will puncture the.

6 opposite endethereof; and a pointed blade can and cut it.

pivotally mounted on one side of the frame a and having an extension at the opposite side REYBURN T. CHASE; 

